Union Avenue bridge over
Passaic River to open to traffic tonight

Transportation Commissioner Jamie Fox announced today that the project to replace the Union Avenue bridge over the Passaic River is substantially complete and the new span is scheduled to open to traffic tonight.

“Residents in the area have endured multiple headaches from the multiple detours resulting from all the bridge work that has been proceeding in the area over the last few years,” Fox said. “Replacing our older bridges is the top priority of the department. We accelerated the design and construction of this project at the behest of Bergen County and worked diligently to coordinate all the detours, but nothing takes the place of finally giving area motorists their long-awaited relief.”

Fox also thanked the legislators from the 36th District -- Senator Garry Funari and Assemblymen Paul DiGaetano and Paul Sarlo – for their support.

The $9.5 million federally funded project replaces the old swing span moveable bridge linking Passic and Rutherford with a new fixed span structure. M.J. Paquet, Inc. of Palisades Park, the department’s contractor, began construction in January 2001.

While work was advancing on the Union Avenue bridge, construction was proceeding on two other bridges in the area that cross the Passaic River. The Market Street bridge, a Passaic County project, is now open to traffic. The Rutgers Street (Route 7) bridge between Belleville and North Arlington, is scheduled to open later this summer.